Report from chief administrative officer Scott Luey says township fire chief and deputy chief would be used for at least 120 days.
Port Colborne will pay Wainfleet for the use of township fire officials for at least 120 days as it searches for a replacement for outgoing Chief Scott Lawson, says a report before council on Tuesday.
Lawson announced he was leaving the city last week after more than three years as chief and eight years with Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services to take on a deputy chief role with Niagara Falls Fire Department.
His last day on the job is April 10.
The fire department administration update report from chief administrative officer Scott Luey is to authorize him to enter a shared services agreement with Wainfleet, where his wife is chief administrative officer, to bring on fire Chief Morgan Alcock and Deputy Chief Shawn Schutten for 120 days.
Luey came to Port Colborne in 2015 to replace retiring chief administrative officer Bob Heil. He held the same role in Wainfleet for seven years and had been with the township in different roles since 1999.
It would not be the first time the two municipalities shared fire service responsibilities.
Port Colborne Chief Tom Cartwright and fire prevention officer Mike Bendia had oversight of Wainfleet fire from 2002 to 2007, before the township hired a chief.
In 2023, the two municipalities signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a shared services model of delivery whenever there was an opportunity.
“Staff believe that the vacancy of the fire chief position and the deputy fire chief position presents an opportunity to explore shared services,” said Luey’s report.
Under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, a municipality with a fire department must appoint a chief through bylaw before any departure.
Luey’s report said appointing Alcock and Schutten meets that requirement.
It said the city, which is advertising to fill the position, could continue to recruit a full-time chief, but that is unlikely to happen before Lawson leaves.
“If a shared services agreement is determined not to be a suitable option … the city can proceed with the recruitment process for a new fire chief,” the report said.
City staff estimate it will take about three months to create the shared service agreements, and the report recommends Port Colborne establish a joint committee with Luey with Mayor Bill Steele as members.
The two municipalities will also continue to explore permanent partnership opportunities to work toward a more fulsome shared service agreement.
Port Colborne will reimburse the township for the cost of the time its staff spend providing administrative services to the fire department.
“These costs are expected to be lower than the allocated budget for the fire chief and deputy fire chief's wages in 2024. This will consequently lead to savings,” the report said.